Encyclopedias are a good starting point for finding background on your topic. They provide historical context, key people and events, and often cite key works published on the topic. Bibliographies are also a good way to identify key works, both primary and secondary, or get a good start on a literature review.
Oxford Reference Collection (online encyclopedias, dictionaries)
- Britannica Online
- For brief discussions of a country's history, events, major figures, and facts.
Cambridge Encyclopedia of Latin America and the Caribbean - NY: Cambridge UP, 1992.
- Refeference F1406 .C36 1992
The Cambridge History of Latin America - Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1984 - (multiple volumes).
- The last three volumes cover Latin America from 1870 to recent. Each volume includes extensive bibliographical essays which guide the reader to primary and secondary sources.
- F1410 .C1834 (stacks)
Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture - New York: Scribners, 1996. 5 volume compendium on events, people, places.
- Reference F1406 .E53 1996
A Reference Guide to Latin American History - Arnonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2000
- Reference F1410 .R395 2000
South America, Central America, and the Caribbean - London: Europa, 1995.
- Several page summaries of recent history, politics, and economic conditions in each country. For updated information, see the Europa World Year Book
- Reference F1414.2 .S68
- Mexico: An Encyclopedia of Contemporary Culture and History
- Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio, 2004
Reference F1234 .C67 2004
- Country Studies - Library of Congress
- For a book length study on an individual country which includes a good historical introduction.
General Bibliographies
- American Historical Association's Guide to Historical Literature
- Edited by Mary Beth Norton.
- NY: Oxford University Press, 1995. Use Index in vol. 2
- Reference D20 A1 A55 1995
Reference Sources in History: An Introductory Guide. 2nd Edition - Santa Barbara: ABC-Clio, 2004.
- Reference D20 A1 F72 2004 (previous edition in stacks)
Bibliographic Index - H.W. Wilson.
- Use to identify full-length bibliographies.
- Search under specific subject, for example: Vietnam--History.
- Reference Z1002 B595 (Library has 1942-current).
Selected Specialized Bibliographies
Latin America and the Caribbean: A Critical Guide to Research Sources Edited by Paula H.Covington.
NY: Greenwood Press, 1992.
Includes brief essays on topics and extensive annotated bibliography.
Reference F1408 .A1 L27 1992
Latin American Studies: An Annotated Bibliography of Core Works Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2002
Latin American Studies: A Basic Guide to Sources Metuchen: Scarecrow, 1990 Reference F1408 .A1 L324 1990
Encyclopedia of African-American Culture & History: The Black Experience in the Americas
6 volume set searchable as part of the Gale Virtual Reference Library. Covers the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean.